Eugene Ernest Vaccarezza
PFC Eugene E. Vaccarezza served with George Battery, Third Battalion, 10th Marines.
He was reported missing in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 21 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 456374
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
May 23, 1920
at Occidental, CA
Parents
Alphonso Vaccarezza
Mabel Marie (Pieroni) Vaccarezza
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Florist, family business
Service Life
Entered Service
September 26, 1942
at San Francisco, CA
Home Of Record
Occidental, CA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Mabel Vaccarezza
Military Specialty
Artilleryman
Primary Unit
10th Marines (G/3)
Campaigns Served
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Eugene E. Vaccarezza was last seen on 21 November 1943, while disembarking from his battery’s shore fire control party boat about a quarter mile from Betio.
Another member of G/3/10, Cpl. Ray H. White, offered the following testimony:
“I was the last man to leave the boat on the morning of Nov 21 1943, and all men were out of the boat before we were fired upon. The only man that I saw wounded was Vaccarezza. He was hit with machine-gun fire in the chest. I saw two corpsmen give him first aid and put him in a ramp lighter to be taken back aboard ship.”
Vaccarezza was reported as evacuated for treatment with gunshot wounds in his chest. However, he never arrived at any known military hospital. Repeated inquiries into his whereabouts were unsuccessful, and Miller was ultimately declared dead on 22 November 1944.
Burial Information or Disposition
No record of burial; disposition of remains unknown.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Mabel Vaccarezza.
Location Of Loss
PFC Vaccarezza was last seen in the water offshore of Betio.
